FORT. PIERCE, Fl. – Hilbert College used a big sixth-inning push to get back in the game, but the Hawks surrendered six late-game runs as they fell 16-8 to Eastern Nazarene in baseball this morning.
Tristan Aldinger poked a three-run homer in the 6th that knotted the game at 6-6. The Lions connected for five runs in the bottom of the 8th to extend their lead before Hilbert tacked two more runs on in the top of the 9th.
The Hawks collected 10 hits with Aldinger going 2-for-4 (3-run HR) and
Winfred Nelson and
Connor Duck adding a 2-for-5 day. Nelson scored a pair of runs and Duck, along with
Ryan Perrin and
Treyton delaCuesta finished with an RBI.
Derek Switzer (1-1) took the loss in four innings of work giving up five earned runs off eight hits while striking three out. Four additional pitchers came out of the bullpen for the final five innings and combined for the nine hit, five earned run results.
Through the first five innings at the plate, Aldinger, Duck (stolen base) and
Brandon Zicari were the only three Hawks to get on base.
Nelson started the sixth inning off with a single to right field and
Mathew Sokolski made contact for a double that pushed Nelson to 3rd with two outs. An ensuing wild pitch scored Nelson and delaCuesta's single scored Sokolski just after
Jared Welnowski walked. Zicari reached on an infield error and scored Welnowski which set the table for Aldinger's 3-run homer that forced a 6-6 score.
ENU added four runs in the bottom of the 6th as they started to pull away from Hilbert and closed the game with six more runs spaced over the 7th and 8th innings.
Ian Moran took a second hit-by-pitch walk to first base in the top of the 9th and made it back home after back-to-back Hilbert singles by Nelson and Duck (RBI).
Ryan Perrin's RBI single down the left field line turned out to be Hilbert's final hit of the afternoon.
Hilbert (2-6) closes their southern trip with a pair of double headers the next two days. The Hawks will battle Immaculata University March 9 beginning at 12 pm and Delaware Valley March 10 with a 10 am start.
Be sure to stay up-to-date on all your Hilbert Hawks scores and awards by following @HilbertAthletic on Twitter and by liking the "Hilbert College Athletics" Facebook page. Additionally, fans of the Hawks who have an Apple device can receive push notification from the newly created Hilbert College Hawks iOS SIDEARM mobile App which can be found in the Apple Store and ITunes.
